It needs a scale to illustrate
how long is this focal length. This super telephoto is not a day to day work out
lens that you can casually take along everywhere you go. Neither the lens is that
easy and convenient to handle - so don't simply rush out and buy such an optic, even
if financially you can afford to do so. The extreme narrow angle of view (2°), weight (3.8kg), size (577mm) often
restrict mobility and very poor portability. Although many would think such optic
are best suited for sports and nature photography but their physical dimension often
require proper setup and the limiting lens speed of f/11.0 is often too slow for
such usage. However, the main advantage is its long reachness which is particularly
useful for covering other inaccessible public. I have only seen once that the lens
was used by foreign media and photojournalists who were here in Malaysia covering
the Heads of Commonwealth Meeting where I have noticed how those hard working guys
were suffering during the shooting sessions. Whatever it is, don't even think of
hand held photography, a monopod/tripod or any other form of steady support is a
MUST !

Thus, this
lens can be an indispensable imaging tool used when it is physically impossible to
approach the subject, either because of the danger involved for an instance, a rocket
launching sequence, hazardous wildlife etc. or because there is something in the
way as obstacles between photographer and subject of interest. The 1,200mm has a
very restrictive angle of view of merely 2° and its depth of field is limited
almost to the plane of focus unless the aperture is stopped down to f/22 or f/32.
The distinctive compression of perspective makes subjects appear to be stacking right
behind one and another. One major problem is its ability on magnification of camera
vibration or movement caused by photographer, where the slightest movement will be
magnified greatly resulted in blurry images. The use of high speed film types may
be able to minimized such potential risk.

The IF-ED
version of this lens was first introduced in 1978 and may not have any Pre-AI version
existed and thus, you can safely concludes all lenses are carrying an AI lens specification
in nature while prior to that, an ED and a normal version of the two parts super
telephoto Nikkor lenses was available in the Nikkor lens family. Other than the king-sized
Nikkor
Reflex 2000mm f/11
and other exotic Nikkor Super Zoom lenses such as Zoom-Nikkor 1200-1700mm f/5.6-8.0
ED-IF and older Nikkor Zoom lens series such as Zoom-Nikkor 360-1200 f/11
ED, this gigantic Nikkor lens was definitely a King of super telephoto lenses.

Credit: MCLau®, who has helped to rewrite
some of the content appeared this site. Chuck Hester® who has been helping
me all along with the development of all these Nikon websites;LarsHolst Hansen, 'Hawkeye'
who shares the same passion I have; Ms Rissa, Sales manager
from Nikon Corporation Malaysia for granting permission to use some of the official
content; TedWengelaar,Holland
who
has helped to provide many useful input relating to older Nikkor lenses; Some of the references
on production serial numbers used in this site were extracted from Roland Vink's website; HiuraShinsaku from Nikomat
Club Japan. Lastly,
to all the good people who has contributed their own expeience, resources or kind
enough granted permission to use their images of their respective optic in this site.
It is also a site to remember a long
lost friend
on the Net.Note:certain content and
images appeared in this site were either scanned from official marketing leaflets
& brochures published by Nikon and/or contribution from surfers who claimed originality
of their work for educational purposes. The creator of the site will not be responsible
for may discrepancies arise from such dispute except rectifying them after verification."Nikon", "Nikkormat", "Nippon Kokagu
KK"
& "Nikkor" are registered
tradename of Nikon Corporation Inc., Japan. Site made with an Apple IMac.